The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has moved to clarify claims that South Africa’s learner drop-out rate is significantly higher than officially reported.
This follows allegations by political parties, including Build One South Africa (BOSA), that more than 566,000 learners did not reach matric after leaving school to pursue alternative education pathways or dropping out altogether.
The Department’s Director-General, Mathanzima Mweli, has dismissed BOSA’s claims as inaccurate.
“While the number of learners who have dropped out has decreased compared to those who started Grade 1 in 2014, there has been an increase in learners repeating grades. Many of them get stuck in Grade 10, which reduces the number progressing to Grades 11 and 12. Learners cannot proceed to Grade 12 if they have not met the promotion requirements,” Mweli explained during an exclusive interview on YOUFM Newshour.
The DBE has also denied claims that it falsely announced an 88.4 percent pass rate for the matric class of 2025, which has been described as the highest in the country’s history.
The department has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening efforts aimed at tracing and retaining learners within the schooling system until they complete Grade 12.
Meanwhile, despite losing a parliamentary vote to abolish the 30 percent pass mark for matric subjects, BOSA says it will continue advocating for a minimum 50 percent pass requirement.
The party maintains that the proposed reform is necessary to improve education standards and better position young people to access future opportunities.
